ipl-logo

The Responsibility Of Odysseus Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

662 Words3 Pages

Will Cho
Period 7
October 19, 2015
In Book 1, Telemachus replies to his mother, “Poets are not to blame, but Zeus who gives / what fate he pleases to adventures men” (12). Telemachus is implying that humans do not have a say in their life (free will), and fate is responsible for human actions. However, free will is supported by evidences suggested by the book. Despite the fact that fate may have a minimal role, free will and the individual themselves is ultimately responsible for their actions. In the epic of The Odyssey, the individual has a free will and is responsible for human beings’ actions because although fate may give the chance, the person has to chose to utilize the chance and fulfill the destiny. Zeus mentioned exasperatedly in Book 1, “My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their affliction come …show more content…

Odysseus’ crew raided the land of the Cyclopes and waited for the inhabitants to come back. Polyphemus came back, ate 2 of the Akhaians, and left the others to groan and wait for the morning (154). Odysseus, in the morning, gave Polyphemus alcohol to become drunk, stabbed him in the eye with a scalding hot hand spike, and escaped underneath Polyphemus’ handsome, fat, dark violet rams. Odysseus says his name is “Nobody” at first, but then he foolishly screams his true name after his ship was out of Polyphemus’ throwing range. Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus with loneliness and bitter days at home (160-161). Poseidon blocked Odysseus' attempts to return to Ithaca as punishment for him blinding Poseidon's son Polyphemus. Although Poseidon did curse Odysseus’ destiny, the Great Tactician used his wits and still found his way back to Ithaca. This is an example of how free will is responsible. Fate is a guide or more like an obstacle in this case, not the main lead. Odysseus’ choice to go home is the ultimate responsible for his

Show More
Related

Odysseus Should Not Be Blamed In Homer's The Odyssey

170 Words | 1 Pages

In Homer’s The Odyssey, the deaths of Odysseus’ men should not be blamed on Odysseus. “The men open the bag, thinking it contains gold and silver, The bad winds escape and blow the ships back to Aeolus’ island.” The men blow them back to the island when they were almost home. They would have made it if Odysseus’ men weren’t greedy and tried to steal from Odysseus.

Read More

A Character Analysis Of Odysseus Arrogance In The Odyssey

414 Words | 2 Pages

The Odyssey In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is bestowed with great abilities. But along with this potential, he is cursed with great arrogance. Conveying that even the labeled ‘perfect’ among us have fatal flaws that causes pain and suffering among the ones closest to them. The author, Homer, uses Odysseus’ arrogance to create a melancholic atmosphere to convey the idea that arrogance is a fatal flaw that will lead those around them to pain and suffering.

Read More

Examples Of Loyalty In The Odyssey

191 Words | 1 Pages

In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Homer portrays loyalty as a guiding force in one’s decision making. In “The Test of the Great Bow”, Eumaeus is loyal to Odysseus even after twenty years of Odysseus’s absence. Eumaeus trusts Odysseus enough to allow him to “‘judge what stuff is in [him] / and how [he manages] arms”’ because he desires to please Odysseus (1136-1137). Through this, Eumaeus gives up his free will and allows Odysseus to make his decisions for him.

Read More

Odysseus Free Will In Homer's Odyssey '

813 Words | 4 Pages

Sometimes Odysseus’s emotional need for rest and relaxation got the best of him, but that was only on one occasion. Odysseus made the selection to use his motives and emotions to choose the right way of path and ultimately save him from what could've been a deadly consequence. One trial where is occurred is when the crew was getting caught up in the moment with the Cicones, Odysseus made the choice not to get caught up in victory, but to continue going on his journey. If Odysseus were to of been in that mindset, all of the crew could’ve possibly gotten killed. “Then I urged them to cut and run, set sail, / but

Read More

Odysseus Dependence In Homer's Odyssey

1666 Words | 7 Pages

Depending on Others, Can Teach Self-dependence From a young age people are often told, contradictory things. People are told that they should try to do things on their own, but are also told that, if they need help they should ask for it. These conflicting messages are exceptionally difficult for soldiers trying to assimilate back into society after the war. As soldiers return home, they often try to live self-dependently, but sometimes they need help and have to depend on others. This effects Odysseus because when he needs help, he has to rely on the gods to lead him the right way.

Read More

Odysseus Role Of Determination In Homer's Odyssey

98 Words | 1 Pages

I agree with you, without his determination he wouldn't have kept his will to return home. Odysseus goes to show us how when we have determination even when the odds are against us we can still reach our goal, if we want it bad enough. I thought his determination was exceptional when he stays loyal to his wife which in turn, turns Calypso to his side. His determination and loyalty to his wife strong enough to defy Zeus’ plan of deception. I also think his cunningness aided in his determination because he relies on it for his strength.

Read More

The Will Of Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

1189 Words | 5 Pages

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus experiences a powerful craving on his journey home. He must pass the island of the Sirens in order to return home but also must avoid landing there; doing so would mean certain death for him and his crew. Although he cannot control his impulses in the moment, Circe’s keen advice beforehand and his crew’s steadfastness save Odysseus from his own desire. In looking at The Odyssey, we will consider Circe’s directions to Odysseus and the way the Sirens and Odysseus act at their meeting to find that Odysseus cannot control his appetite and needs specific guidelines, in this case from Circe, to survive a life-or-death situation.

Read More

Odysseus Decisions In Homer's Odyssey

831 Words | 4 Pages

In real life we make our own decisions, and some of those decisions lead to bad outcomes, even though we don’t blame ourselves for many of our mistakes, we are to blame. In Greek Mythology, humans make many important decisions in their life, many of them lead to horrible endings. In the journey of Odysseus, he made many choices throughout his journey that eventually led to the death of all his crew members. In other stories from mythology like the stories of Theseus and Icarus, they made decisions that led them and their loved ones to life threatening situations. Even Zeus once stated “My word, how mortals take the gods to task!

Read More

Odysseus Responsibility In The Odyssey

815 Words | 4 Pages

The men of Odysseus struggled with facing the obligations they had for their lives. The Cyclopes did not take control of their island and did not make responsible choices with his property. Odysseus, on the other hand, took the power he had and helped others along the way. Many have contended with accountability and not many have succeed in vanquishing it. Consequently, it is hard to prosper under the weight of responsibility, but Odysseus

Read More

Examples Of Zeus In The Odyssey

274 Words | 2 Pages

In Homer’s Odyssey, Zeus, in utter exasperation and discontent, condemns one of the grave follies of mortals—shedding blame on the gods for all their misfortunes. Continuing his expression of disdain, Zeus implies that humans beings only suffer calamity and sorrow because they are foolish and disregard the bad omens and prophecies which are given to them by the gods. Zeus, to support his argument, gives the example of Aegisthus, who was killed for committing crimes against his kinsmen after he was thoroughly forewarned by the gods to not plot such a thing. Certainly, Zeus, or even perhaps Homer, is wholly under the impression that humans are the cause of their own trials and tribulations because of their callous decisions. Indeed, this is a

Read More

Divine Intervention In The Odyssey Essay

384 Words | 2 Pages

Poseidon, Apollo, Athena, Zeus, and Hermes are all Greek Gods that appear in the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. These gods all play a significant role in The Odyssey by both helping and hindering Odysseus on his 10-year journey home. Homer illustrates the theme of divine intervention in The Odyssey using Poseidon’s wrath, Athena’s providence, and Hermes’ guidance. Poseidon is one of the main gods that appears throughout The Odyssey, Homer shows Poseidon's divine intervention through his wrath on Odysseus during his journey home.

Read More

Role Of Fate In The Odyssey

671 Words | 3 Pages

Fate and destiny are very important parts in The Odyssey. Many gods and goddesses find their fate and destiny through the choices they make. For example, in Book 9, the Cyclopes predicts Odysseus’ destiny. “...Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home… Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family and his father

Read More

Role Of Divine Intervention In The Odyssey

1197 Words | 5 Pages

Surya Govindaswaami Vidya Madavan English A HL 3 May 2016 The Influence of Divine Intervention on the Portrayal of Fate and Free Will in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is not only considered one of the most prolific mythological epics of all time, but one of the greatest texts written by man. It recounts the arduous journey of the war hero Odysseus, in which he faced a multitude of adversities and obstacles that he had to overcome, as well as numerous challenges upon his arrival.

Read More

Fate And Free Will In Homer's Iliad

155 Words | 1 Pages

So it may be that the gods have some control over fate and destiny, but there is also the chance that the actions of men can also affect their own fate and destiny. This epic poem allows both the audience and the ancient Greeks to ruminate about the place of mortals in the entire universe as well as attempt to comprehend how much free will mortals are actually given. Without this topic, there would be no conversation on how the Greek religion

Read More

Fate In The Iliad Research Paper

1217 Words | 5 Pages

It has been noticed that the actions taken place in the Iliad could become impregnated without any intervention of the gods. On the other hand, others disagree with the fact that nothing happens in the poem without the inducing of the gods. The role of fate and the of gods in the Iliad both play a major part. The actions of the god can affect the men fighting in the battle but regardless what the gods do they still cannot change or stop the fate, if it is prearranged that one must die, the gods only play part in how the person will die. Even though they play a role in how fate runs its course, even the gods are bound by fate, the extent to which Zeus is “bound” by fate—as oppose to the understandable “binding” of only mortals that is left arguable.

Read More

More about The Responsibility Of Odysseus Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document